20 Questions Your Prospective Check Imaging Vendor Doesn’t Want You to Ask!

Want to make your check image sales representative work a little bit? How about making them earn their keep? Well sit back, relax, and start asking the following:

1. Do all of your check imaging customers run the same version of software?

2. How many different check imaging products (platforms) does your company support?

3. Describe your company’s deployment of new system releases? Does my bank have to do it or does your company perform the upgrade?

4. Are check images stored in an open image format, or will you hold my institution hostage with your company’s own “proprietary” image format?

5. Describe your image system’s archive, back-up, and recovery procedures?

6. Describe the process for adding pc’s or workstations to the system? If we load another company’s software on the same pc will you guarantee that your software will still function properly with the system?

7. Explain your company’s methodology for handling corrupt index/image pointer files?

8. How many concurrent user licenses have you proposed?  With your proposal, how many concurrent users can utilize any system function simultaneously?

9. What database is used for check image capture and processing?

10. What database is used for long term archival and statements?

11. If a different database is used at capture than for long term archival, how many checks can be imported per hour into the long term archival database with the hardware being proposed? Describe the transfer process (manual, automated, etc?)

12. Describe the reconciliation tools for determining that the proper number of records and images have been transferred and updated between the different database systems?

13. Is a database administrator required for optimum system performance? Does your company charge for such a service?

14. Who owns the software that you are proposing? Do different vendors provide the software for capture/processing and archive/statements?

15. Describe your email statement system. How does your company address the issue of security and file size?

16. Explain your company’s methodology for handling corrupt index/image pointer files? Describe the recovery process to ensure images are not lost.

17. What devices have you recommended in the past and what do you presently support for long term archival? What do you recommend today?

18. Describe the security capabilities of the system. How does the system guarantee the integrity of the images and database information?

19. Describe the system architecture. Is the system mainframe based, client server based, or Browser-based? If not Browser-based for all functions, please explain why not and what your company’s plans are for the future to address the technology?

20. Please explain the options available for altering statement design outside of my host capabilities. Must I rely on the host to make changes to the statement design for them to appear on my image statements? Explain the your process for providing the lowest postal rates with CASS, PAVE, and Manifest Mailing Certification.

There are many pertinent questions to ask in the evaluation of check imaging vendors. If you have a suggested question, please let us know at sales@bankware.net. Thank you for your interest in BankWare and our ImageCentre suite of applications.

BankWare presents ImageCentre – the financial industry’s first and only complete and integrated check imaging, document imaging, remittance processing, and COLD solution.